Upstate Correctional Facility

309 Bare Hill Road, Malone,
New York 12953

Upstate Correctional Facility Visiting Information:

Visitation by family and friends is encouraged and can be a positive influence during an inmate’s time in prison, as well as after the inmate’s release. Research has shown that an inmate who receives regular visitation adjusts much better once he or she is released from prison.

Directions and Mileage

Correctional facilities are sometimes hard to find and may take longer to reach than you originally anticipated. Please refer to the addresses of state correctional facilities. The DOCS website gives directions to correctional facilities from Albany, New York. Directions may also be obtained through Map Quest on the internet or by calling the correctional facility.

Who can visit

With little exception, anyone can visit an inmate, as long as it is during visiting hours, the visitor has proper identification, and the inmate agrees to the visit. Visitors are required to sign a statement indicating that they have been advised of and agree to abide by the rules and regulations regarding visiting.

Make sure you know how many visitors may visit at one time. Each facility is different. Sometimes special arrangements for extra visitors can be made through the Superintendent’s Office, with several weeks or a month’s notice. You can call the facility to find out about special arrangements.

Special Permission Visitors

The following individuals can only visit with special permission:

A person who is currently under Parole or Probation supervision. A Department employee. A current, active volunteer for the Department. A current contract employee. A person with pending or past criminal proceedings may be denied pending approval by the Superintendent. If any of these conditions applies to you, permission should be sought by writing to the Superintendent well in advance. You must do this and receive approval before you can visit. The Superintendent may deny visiting privileges to visitors with criminal histories if they feel that the visitor’s presence could create a threat to the security and good order of the facility. Criteria to be considered shall include, but not be limited to, the purpose of the proposed visit, the former institutional adjustment of the ex-inmate, the nature of the pending criminal proceeding, and the time frame between release and the proposed visit. NOTE: In addition to the Superintendent’s approval, Probationers and Parolees also need written approval from their Probation or Parole Officer.

Visiting Days and Times

BEFORE YOU VISIT, MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE VISITING SCHEDULE.

BE THERE ON THE CORRECT DAY !!!!!!!!!!

Except in cases of emergency and instances of termination, suspension, or revocation of the visitor’s privileges, the number, length and frequency of visits by each visitor will be limited only as necessary to accommodate all visitors who arrive during the scheduled visiting time.

Visiting days and times are different for each facility. They are influenced by the security level and population concerns of the facility. At many facilities, you may only visit on certain days of the week, for example, by last name (A-L) (M-Z) or by the inmate’s DIN. As a general rule, maximum security facilities have visiting on a daily basis. Medium and minimum security facilities have visiting on weekends and holidays. Work Release facilities have visiting for inmates in restriction units only. Shock Incarceration inmates have visiting every other weekend. PLEASE NOTE: Inmates designated as SHU status (Special Housing Unit) are limited to one visit per week, excluding legal visits that have been approved. Contact the facility for the specific visiting schedule.

Visiting hours vary by facility, but generally they begin at 7:30 am and end at 3:00 pm. Some may even include evening hours. Many visiting rooms become very crowded and often visitors are told they must leave because there are others waiting to get in. It is good to learn, in advance, as much as possible about the facility you are going to visit.

Contact the facility prior to your initial visit to determine the visiting policy.

Upstate Correctional Facility Additional information:

EMERGENCIES

If you are an immediate family member of the offender, it is always good to keep the offender informed of any change in your address and phone number.

In response to the many questions about telephone communications with your loved one locked up in New York state prisons, please note the following:

TELEPHONE CALLS

The Department’s “Call-Home” program allows inmates to make phone calls as a way to maintain contact with family and friends. The inmate may only call you collect. This means you will have to pay for the call.

An inmate is only permitted to call persons on their approved telephone list and may only have up to 15 telephone numbers on their approved list at any time. Phone numbers may only be added or deleted at the request of the inmate. This is generally done on a quarterly basis when the inmate meets with his or her assigned Correction Counselor. If, however, you do not wish to receive telephone calls from an inmate, you need to notify the facility, in writing, and your name will be entered on the inmate’s Negative Correspondence and Telephone List. The inmate will be immediately notified in writing that you have been removed from his/her “Telephone List” and that disciplinary action may be taken if the telephone is used in any manner to contact you. In addition, your telephone number will be removed from the telephone system.

According to the type of facility, inmates are generally permitted to make phone calls every day, including holidays, between the hours of 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. A schedule for phone calls will be established. Calls will automatically be terminated when the facility specific time limit has been reached, preceded by a warning. No call shall exceed 30 minutes. When other inmates are waiting to place calls, a 10 minute limit may be imposed.

PROHIBITED CALLS: The following rules are some of the restrictions you should be aware of regarding calls made by inmates:

No inmate may place a telephone call to the residence of a victim of the crime(s) for which he / she has been convicted, or is presently under indictment, regardless of whether immediate family members maintain the same residence, unless prior written authorization has been received from the Superintendent.

No inmate may call the phone number of any person listed on a court Order of Protection which prohibits telephone communication, unless the order specifically states that the inmate is not prohibited from communication by phone with another person at that same phone number.

Inmates are prohibited from making telephone calls for the purpose of harassing or intimidating any person. Staff and inmates are advised that such telephone calls may violate Federal and/or State laws. Facility Superintendents shall report serious and/or continuing telephone calls of this nature to the proper law enforcement authorities.

Inmate telephone calls and telephone conversations are restricted to the telephone number dialed or otherwise placed by or for the inmate. Telephone call forwarding, third party phone calls, and calls to 1-800 numbers are prohibited. Inmates are also prohibited from placing calls to wireless communication devices (i.e., cellular or PCS phone, pagers, etc.). Inmates will be subject to disciplinary action should they violate these rules.

Unfortunately, many correctional officers are abusive to inmates and are biased against minorities. This attitude is prevalent among numerous prisons throughout the United States. For more discussion about correctional officers, click the following link.